Automatic transporter and exploder for explosives for aiding rain-fall



(No Model.)

L. L. BROWN. AUTOMATIC TRANSPORTER AND BXPLODBR FOR EXPLOSIVES FOR AIDING RAINFALL. No. 473,820.

Patented Apr. 26,1592.

@MJQM 'ot Pntmosfin the county of Uoifeyand State of l stens" i iron.

LAURICE LEROY BROWN, OF lA'lMOS, KANSAS.

AUTOitlATlC TRANSPORTER AND EX PLODER FOR EXPLOSlVES FOR AlDlNG RAIN-FALL.

SPECIFXCATIOH forming port of Letters Patent No. 473,820, dated April 26. 1892.

Application filed January 5, 1892.

To all whom it may COW/0677b:

Be it known that 1, LA UICE Lnnov ilnown,

Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in an Automatic Transporter and Exploder for Explosives for Aiding Rain- Full; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specificittion. I

My invention is an automatic transporter and exploder for explosives for aiding ruiniall; and it consists in certain novel features of construction, and in the combination and arrangement of parts, which will be fully de scribed hereinafter, and more particularly referred to in the annexed claims.

The object of my invention is to construct an improved means of transporting the bombs to a, safe distance from the operators for explosion, to provide on automatic exploding mechanism, and to provide on automatically acting mechanism for passing the bombs to the exploder.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is aside elevation of my improved apparatus. is". 2 is :1 top view of {t portion of the some. Fig. 3 is n modification of the bomb-exploding apparatus.

When my improved apparatus is to be employed in a. level or undulating sect-ion of country, 1 construct 2t derrick or tower A, which forms the support i'or't-he upper end of the inclined track 15; but when the apparatus is to be used in close proximity to it hill the tower may be dispensed with and a suitable support for the upper end of the track construe ed thereon. The extreme upper end of the tixck B is made level, as shown at ll, and this 1 'el portion extends preferably to the eds: of the support or tower A. This portion of the track enablcs'the operntorto place the great conve uce and ease push them off on the sloping tion at the desired intervals. The track B'fowie conductor for an electrical current whic has its source in u buttery C, located at the foot of the tower, as shown, and with which the truck is connected traveling kglillbs upon the track and with Serial No. 417,084. (No model.

by the vertical wire C. Extending outward from the battery and in it line with the truck B is a wire or conductor D, which terminates at the base of the support for the outer end of the trnclt. ported on the outer ends of the horizontal arms F, which project from the vertical posts E. It the said wire were supported on the upper ends of the posts, it is evident that the latter would impede t we downward movement of the bombs; but its the wireis supported away from the posts by the said arms it is evident that the movement of the bombs thereon is free and unobstructed.

G represents 2t trolley to which the bomb ll is suspended by menus of a, rod or wire I. extending; down through the bomb and projecting outward from its lower end, as shown at J. The shell of the bomb is preferably formed of paper or other light material, which iucloses the explosive, which may be of powder, dynamite, or other material, as may be preferred. A portion of the wire passing; through the bomb is made quite thin, ;,as shown at L. The outer end of the wire I.) is

connected to the horizontal bar K, which is directly beneath the terminus of the'tritck. ll, so that when the bomb has traveled to the lowcrcnd of its track the projecting roll J will come in contact with the sztid bar,ond by this means the track ii and the wire D will be placed in elcctricul contact and the circuit completed. The electrical current passing into the bomb through the wire I WillllGR-ll the reduced portion L to 2i very high. degree, causing the powder or'otner explosive to ignite, thus iiriuc the bomb. When dynttr. c s used, it ,sunill quantity of powder will be. placed around the point L. so that the some in exploding; will cause it jnr suilicient to explode the dynamite.

When at very long track is employed, the bonrbs in traveling-donor the incline are liable to move at different rates of speed, and thus reach thc"lowcr end at irregular intervals. This defect I obviate by on improved appuretus for catching the bombs near the lower end of the track and releasing them at arcdetermined intervals. This mechanism consists of it vertical support M or supports, to which are secured on opposite sides of the track l; the spring-arms N, which retard the The inclined wire 13- is sup movement of the bombs in passing through them, allowing the bombs to pass with red uced force against the outwardly-projecting blades 0 of the vertical shaft P, which is journaled to one side ofthe track. The blades project over the track and are four in number. The shaft to which they are secured is given a quarter-movement at regular intervals by a clock-work mechanism inclosed in the base Q. By this means the bombs are passed to the lower end of the track with regula ity, t e length of the interval being varied at w ll by adjusting the clock-work mechanism.

The modification shown in Fig. 3 for the reception of the bomb at the terminus of the track consists of a mortar or heavy metal rcceptacle R, having an open flaring side and open upper end, so thatthe bomb is conveyed therein by its downward movement. Extendin; through this receptacle is the car 5, to which the outer end of the wire I) is connected, so that when the bomb has reached the rear side of the receptacle the rod J is brought incontact with this bar, and the circuit being thus completed the explosion immediately occurs. The bar S is held'in position by supports T on opposite sides of the receptacle R. The explosion throws the trolley-wheel off the track and out of the way of the next bomb.

The portions of the apparat us in close proximity to the point where the explosion occurs are made very strong and are securely anchored, so as not to be attected or displaced by the shock.

The operator being stationed at the upper end of the wire is quite removed from the 10- cality of thecxplosiou, and the track 1- having its connection with the battery at U there is no danger of his accidentally coming in contact therewith. I

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. In an apparatus oi. the character described, the combination, with atrack and an electrical circuit,ot a bomb adapted to be carried on said track and close the said circuit, whereby the bomb is exploded, substantially as shown and described.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination, with an inclined track which forms an electrical conductor, and which is connected with the source of supply at its upper end, and a second con- (luctor extending outward from the source of supply and in a line with the track o f'a bomb, adapted to move on the said track and connect the outer endsof the said conductors, whereby the circuit is closed and the bomb exploded, substantially as herein shown and described.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination, with a tow; r a track, vertical supports, arms projecting outward therefrom, and an electrical circuit, of a bomb adapted to travel on the said track and close the said circuit, substantially as shown and described.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination, with the inclined track-conductor B and the conductorl), both of which are connected to a common electrical source, and a bar at the outer end of the conductor D, of a bomb carried by a trolley on the said track and a rod extending through the bomb, having a reduced portion, the lower projecting end of said rod being adapted to engage the said bar when the trolley has reached the lower endof the track, whereby the circuit is closed, the rod passing; through the bomb hcated,and the explosive ignited,

substantially as shown and described.

5. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination, with an inclined track, a support therefor, and a circuit, of a bomb adapted to be carried on said track and close the circuit and a means for moving: the

bombs at regular intervals on the track, sub

stantially as shown and described.

t). In an apparatus of the character described, the combination, with the inclined track, the circuit, and the bomb moving on the track and adapted to close the circuit, of a vertical support in a line with the said track, guides secured to said support, between which the bomb passes, a shaft journaled to one side of the track, blades extending cutward from said shaft and into the line of travel of the bomb, and a means for partially rotating the said shaft at predetermined times, substantially as shown and described.

7. The combination, with an inclined track and an electrical circuit, of a mortar arranged at the lower end of the track and abomb adapted to be carried on said track and which enters the motor, whereitis exploded by closing the said circuit, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LAURIGE LEROY BROWN.

Witnesses:

(i. J. MANcHnsfrnn, .Ton RoLs'roN. 

